“We Want to Punch First”: Minnesota Lynx Prepare for Home Opener Rematch Against Dallas Wings

The Minnesota Lynx are embracing a familiar opponent as they get set for their 2025 home opener: the Dallas Wings, the very team they defeated in the season opener just five days earlier. While the Lynx have surged to a 2-0 start, the Wings enter Wednesday night still searching for their first win of the season and looking to correct early missteps.

Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve, forward Jessica Shepard, and veteran wing Bridget Carleton spoke at Tuesday’s practice about Dallas’ talent, the adjustments they expect from their opponent, and the Lynx’s priorities heading into the rematch.

Minnesota Lynx Make Adjustments Amid Respect for Dallas Wings

Reeve emphasized that the Wings’ slow start does not reflect their potential, pointing instead to roster turnover and the growing pains that come with a new system.

“They’ve got really good players that need to play together,” Reeve said. “I think that’s the thing. And the more that they keep at it, and the players are playing together, and Chris is figuring out rotations and identity and that sort of thing. They’re all good players. We had one of them here in Myisha. And I think they’re trying to do what they’re asked to do. I think it’s a good team.

“And I think our league is different now with 44 games versus when we had 34, or even 32,” Reeve explained further. “When you have a tough start, it’s hard to recover from. Now that we get more games, and we’re not quite like baseball, where they play, what are they up to, 400 games now, you have a little bit more of a runway to manage tough times. “So I think players and teams that are new just need to stick with it. And they’ve got good players.”

Koclanes, in his first season as Dallas’ head coach, is overseeing a roster that includes only three returning players from last year. While cohesion is still forming, Reeve expects a stronger effort in Round 2.

“We fully expect a pretty motivated team,” she said. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re understanding that and that it’s about us, what we can control. If we do that, we come correct, then we’ll be hard to play against.”

Learning from Game 1

Jessica Shepard said internal growth remains the top priority, particularly regarding defensive intensity in the opening half.

“I think as a team, we’re looking at how we can kind of improve those first halves and just become a better team all around, especially on the defensive end,” she said. “You don’t want to constantly be trading baskets in the first half. Like Coach has said, that puts a lot of pressure on your offense to make sure that you’re making baskets. So I think we just want to pick up the defensive intensity a little bit.”

Carleton added that Minnesota is putting significant emphasis on disrupting opposing offenses early.

“We focus a lot on ball pressure and seeking deflections,” she said. “It’s not just something that comes, so we have some players that are really good at it, and some of us that want to be better at it. So I think we’ve worked on kind of little drills that really put an emphasis on those things.”

In their 99–84 win over the Wings last Friday, the Lynx broke the game open with a third-quarter surge behind Napheesa Collier’s 18-point frame. The veteran forward finished with 34 points, and Courtney Williams added 15 during that same stretch.

Bridget Carleton said the team aims to avoid a sluggish start in Wednesday’s rematch.

“We’re excited to play the same team again. Obviously, now we’ve got a feel for who they are. Obviously, it’s a new team kind of being put together,” Carleton said. “We want to be able to come out like we did in the second half against L.A. and not just, you know, feeling the game. We want to punch first. We want to be the aggressor. We want to make things challenging and not let some of their really good players get hot, get comfortable. We want to avoid that. ’Cause you know, good players in this league, it’s hard to put out that fire once it’s started.”

A Homecoming for Paige Bueckers and a Challenge

Wednesday’s matchup will be the second WNBA game in Minnesota for Wings rookie guard Paige Bueckers, a native of Hopkins, just outside Minneapolis. The No. 1 overall pick is already playing heavy minutes and producing across the board—averaging 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 33.5 minutes through her first two games.

Bueckers is coming off a 19-point, eight-assist, five-rebound performance against the Seattle Storm in a narrow 79–71 loss. She has quickly become Dallas’ focal point on both ends and has shown the composure and toughness that made her one of the most anticipated rookies in recent memory.

Still, the Lynx aren’t focused on the occasion but on delivering a complete, wire-to-wire performance for their home crowd.

“Obviously, home opener—I think there’s going to be a lot of energy,” Carleton said. “It should be easy no matter what the situation. That’s definitely our control. But we’re excited.”

She added that she was excited to be back at Target Center.

“Yeah, I mean, I love playing at Target Center. It’s my favorite arena to play in,” Carleton said. “Target Center in general is going to be excited about the game. Lots of factors being put into it.”

Tipoff and Outlook

The Lynx are 2–0 and have shown depth and continuity early, with Collier, Williams, Shepard, and Alanna Smith all contributing in their latest win over the Los Angeles Sparks.

Meanwhile, Dallas is 0–2 but has shown signs of growth, particularly in second-half responses. In addition to Bueckers’ strong showing, Maddy Siegrist, NaLyssa Smith, and Teaira McCowan have given the Wings solid production as they continue to search for consistency.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday at Target Center, airing on NBATV and locally on KFAA. As the Wings look to build on their “starting foundation,” the Lynx are aiming to protect home court and punch first.

More Dallas Wings Articles

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• “She’s Gonna Be Tremendous”: Dirk Nowitzki Talks Paige Bueckers, WNBA Growth, and Mavs Winning Lottery at Wings Game
• “Build on the Foundation”: Dallas Wings Adjust in Practice as Luisa Geiselsöder Joins Ahead of Seattle Storm Game
• “I’m Just Excited”: Curt Miller Breaks Down Dallas Wings’ Rebuild, Luisa Geiselsöder’s Arrival, Paige Bueckers’ WNBA Debut, and More
• “Excited for Her Potential”: Luisa Geiselsöder Reports to Dallas Wings, Could Play Against Seattle Storm
• “She’s Just a Great Person and Player”: Napheesa Collier Welcomes Paige Bueckers to the WNBA in Full-Circle Matchup
• “Full-Circle Moment”: Paige Bueckers Makes WNBA Debut as Dallas Wings Host Minnesota Lynx in Sold-Out Opener
• Luisa Geiselsöder Eager for Dallas Wings After Long-Awaited WNBA Opportunity
• “It’s So Surreal”: Paige Bueckers Reacts to Hopkins Renaming Itself in Her Honor
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